PHILOSOPHY
aka things I think are true
Don’t fall in love with one’s tools.
There are lots of good technicians. There are fewer good curators.
Be careful with terminology, as it can define one’s thinking.
Do what’s interesting before doing what’s appropriate.
Working process (“style”) and the aesthetics that result from this process are two different things.
Understand the mechanics.
Do no harm.
COMPOSITION I: GEOMETRY
Part I: We Must Start With John Ford
What is Mr. Ford actually saying about composition here?
YOUNG MR. LINCOLN: 8:40-11:00
Forms: The fence, and the tree. Why does he unbalance his frame with a foreground object at 9:55?
CITIZEN KANE
Track the three composition points of interest, which form a triangle. What is being depicted here?
THE QUIET MAN
Track:
The shapes formed by Maureen, and her background.
From what perspective are we looking at John and Maureen, respectively?
How does John’s placement within the mise en scene direct our understanding of him in this moment?
The essay below on Yasojiro Ozu is good, except for the bit of misinformation about 50mm lenses. We can’t all be perfect!
Why does one work but not the other?
Why shoot a western in academy ratio in 2011?